One downside is that the tube is always working at maximum plate dissipation. In theory, at least, Class A tube amplifiers when properly biased and with a bit of negative feedback can produce the clearest, cleanest tone. This amp uses a Class A single-ended tube output and is designed to work with a preamp or other high-impedance source. If you’re looking for a fun, well-executed kit and you appreciate (and are willing to pay for) the nuances that a tube amp offers, then this kit may be for you. Can you find a kit with this quality build for less? I doubt it. Can you find a cheaper amp from Asia already built and tested? Sure. The value proposition is good, considering you’re getting a kit and a quality amp. This kit is every bit as good as any of those kits.Īs a tube amp, it’s another win, in part because of the excellent headphone out. I’ve assembled dozens of kits, including complex transceivers and power amplifiers from HeathKit. In the world of audio, quality is always expensive. This isn’t your one hour blinking LED project. However, as kits go, this one is expensive. Thanks to the pictorial manual with life-sized components and boards, it’s a quick and fun build. I’ve kept this review modular and to the point, starting with my final impressions. The EleKit TU-8900 300B/2A3 SE Power Amp Kit TubeDepot offers over a dozen other tube amp/preamp kits, from a $300 headphone amp for your iPhone to a $2,000 upscale version of this amp. The less expensive 2A3s will produce about 3.5 watts per channel. Note that the eight watt output per channel assumes a pair of 300Bs. Clearly, like fine wine, you can go crazy with vintage tubes.įor this review, I kept the cost down by going with a pair of $13 JJ 12AU7s and a pair of $120 Electro-Harmonix 300B EH Gold Grid tubes for a total of about $1,775. That’s right, a pair of WE 300Bs with engraved bases in the original boxes cost nearly $20K. The stereo amplifier kit without tubes is available from my favorite tube supplier, TubeDepot for $1,495. Note the blue glow around the volume control, signifying 300B tubes are detected. EleKit TU-8900 stereo audio amplifier kit with EH 300B tubes installed. I think you’ll appreciate the value proposition of this eight watts per channel single-ended stereo amp based on a pair of 300B or 2A3 triodes.įigure 1. If you’re one of these people or have thought about “going tube,” then you should keep reading. I have friends that have amazing collections of vinyl records that they play exclusively through tube amps and speakers that cost more than my first car. I save it for quiet times, such as a small gathering of friends over for dinner, when I can appreciate the subtle differences between tube and solid-state amplifiers. I also own a few “audiophile” amps as measured by weight or cost, including a tube amp. If Christian hadn’t sent me this kit to review, I would have probably ordered this or one of the other amp kits on my own. They’re my go-to source for vacuum tubes. I separately purchased a $40 capacitor upgrade and slightly more expensive Genalex Gold Lion PX 300Bs at $165 each and a pair of 12AU7s for $25 each. Thanks to Christian Magee at TubeDepot for making the kit and tubes available for me to assemble and test.
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